Which position BEST describes your view as the means of salvation by grace?

Topic tags

I think at SI we all agree that Jesus completely atoned for our sins upon the cross, and that his death (or life and death), burial, and resurrection completely provide the basis for our salvation. The old school called this “objective salvation” (a nomenclature I personally embrace).

But how does the work fo Christ become OURS (subjective salvation). You might believe in the doctrine of unconditional election (as I do), but still, there is a crossing over from death to life. Whether regeneration occurs first (in logical order, as I believe) or at the same time as salvation, what does it take for one to be saved?

We have views ranging from that of Zane Hodges all the way to John MacArthur’s listed below. Although there are many other views (such as salvation through sacraments, salvation by works, salvation by baptism plus faith etc. ) I excluded them because to my way of thinking they are beyond the boundaries of SI. But if I missed an alternative within SI paramenters, I will stand corrected.

Feel free to opine! One issue is, for those of us who choose repentance as necessary — what do we mean by repentance?

Poll Results

Which position BEST describes your view as the means of salvation by grace?

Faith in Christ alone, even a dead faith. Votes: 0
Faith (resulting in works) in Christ alone; this does not include repentance. Votes: 0
Faith (resulting in works) in Christ alone, which includes repentance or faith + repentance. Votes: 12
Faith (resulting in works) in Christ plus repentance plus total surrender (lordship) Votes: 7
More than one of the above is acceptable. Votes: 1
None of the above or other. Votes: 4

(Migrated poll)

N/A
0% (0 votes)
Total votes: 0

Discussion

…to put a fairly complicated idea into so few words! My tendency is to assume that if faith does not have an awareness of and repentance from sin, and if it isn’t accompanied by some fruit, it’s not real.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

[Mark_Smith]

Can anyone show me a person who has “totally surrendered”?

Go to any funeral and take a look, no?

(sorry, couldn’t resist—your point about perfection being impossible on this earth is well taken)

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

I went ahead with “total surrender” because it’s the option with “surrender” in it. There is definitely a yielding/submitting/bowing/surrendering when someone believes the gospel truth that Jesus Christ is Lord. It’s “total” enough at that moment as an intention, but certainly not “total” as a full knowledge and permanent yielding of the will in every aspect. As several have pointed out, we continue to struggle to do that for the rest of the journey. The trouble with a “living sacrifice” is that it wants to keep crawling off the altar. Nonetheless this alter is inherent in the Christian life and inherent in the repentant faith that launches it.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.